WELCOME!!! Back to School Night September 15th, 2016 Mrs. Kolesar Second Grade ***Please sign up for a conference in October/November!!

Who Am I? I’m originally from Blairsville, PA. Approximately 45 minutes from Pittsburgh. I earned two Bachelors degrees from IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania). Elementary Education K-6 and Early Childhood Education Pre-school through 3rd. I taught Kindergarten for 2 years in PA before moving to Virginia. This will be my sixteenth year teaching at Arcola/Pinebrook. This will be my fifteenth year teaching 2nd grade. I am married and enjoy reading, cooking, traveling, going out to eat, and shopping (especially at Costco). GO PENS AND STEELERS!!!

Tardies/Absences 7:50 Bell Rings – It’s very important to arrive to school on time. If your child is tardy they must check into the office and receive a pink tardy slip. If your child is absent, please call the absentee line that morning.

Birthdays Birthdays will be celebrated! Due to allergies, no food will be given out. You can donate a book, indoor game, or outdoor recess item in your child’s name. Invitations are not allowed to be brought into the classroom unless all students in the class are invited.

Book Orders Scholastic Book Orders will be sent home each month! Please write 1 check payable to Scholastic Book Club. Please fill out the Puzzlemania and Highlights form to get free prizes for our prize box.

Snack/Lunch Time Second grade will have an “optional” working snack this year due to our late lunch time. Lunch is at 11:40, so please make sure students eat a healthy breakfast.

Communication Folder Red folders will be sent home daily. Please check and clean folders daily as they are the main communication tool. Homework along with any notes should be sent back to school in the red folder. Please do not put important notes in student agendas. I do not get to see them until the end of the day. Thursday folder information will be sent home in the red folder.

Second Grade Homework 30 minutes each night and due the next day. Raz-Kids and Reflex Math will start next week. Can complete on weekends. Not meant to cause any stress. If something comes up, just send a note. All assignments will be written in agenda. Homework will be Monday-Thursday. No homework on Fridays. Monthly Projects will be given.

Tests & Quizzes Study Guides used for each test. They do not need to be turned in. Found on the second grade website. No study guides for quizzes. Retests-If a student scores a 2 or below, a retest will be given a couple of days after the original test is passed back. I will mark the original test with a new retest date. The highest score a student can get on a retest is a 2+.

Word Study Every other week, a word study sheet will be sent home with your child’s new word study words. Word Study tests will be given every other Friday. Test Date will be written at the top of the study guide.

Loudoun County Grading Policy Effort O=Outstanding S=Satisfactory N=Needs Improvement Progress Indicators 4 = E=Exceeds Standard 3 = M=Meets Standard 2 = P=Progressing Towards Standard 1 = B=Performing Below Standard

Newsletter This will inform you about what we have been learning about and upcoming events. Newsletters will be sent home the first week of each month.

Classroom Management Positive Reinforcement Students will earn coins and Puma Paws for positive behavior. Coins can be accumulated and exchanged for items in prize box once a month. Paws (group and individual) FUN FRIDAY!

Curriculum Language Arts (Pathways) Science Social Studies Math-Flexible Grouping Students will take a math pre-assessment at the start of the year. Results of these assessments will determine which math class students will be placed in.

Pinebrook BYOT ***Students participation optional BYOT will start Monday, October 3rd or LATER Students will complete Digital Citizenship Lessons in computer lab before BYOT begins Devices must have a 7 inch screen or larger Students must provide their own earbuds (NOT headphones) labeled with name Want more information? Please attend BYOT Parent Night on Thursday, September 22nd at 6:30. Parents only!

Last Remarks Leave a quick note to your child You can take all the papers on your child’s desk. Join the PTA Sign up for a conference Check out the side table THANK YOU FOR COMING!